With such a shortage of childcare places in Navan, why was a plan for a newly built creche abandoned?

Proposals to convert a creche in Woodstream, Navan, into two apartments has sparked concern amid a severe shortage of childcare facilities in the area.

Andrews Construction Limited has sought planning permission for the change of use of a creche facility to residential use at Woodstream, Old Road, Bailis, Navan.

The proposals would see the creche facility, measuring 144.7 square metres, converted to two ground floor apartments, one a two bedroom apartment and the other a single bedroom unit.

The development would also include three car parking spaces, six cycle parking spaces, enclosed bin storage and dedicated private open spaces.

The proposal has caused a lot of disappointment locally. April Martin who lives in nearby Gort na Glaise has a one year-old son and says the waiting list for childcare facilities is huge.

"I saw there would be a creche in Woodstream and I was really hoping that my son, Rico, would get a place there.

"I went back to work in October. I work from home and my friend and sister-in-law mind him at the moment, but that cannot continue. It is extremely difficult to get a creche place, especially for his age group. I rang a number of places and the waiting lists are huge.

"There are a lot of families in this area who would really benefit from this creche," she said.

Cllr Eddie Fennessy said there are 40,000 children on waiting lists for childcare places in this state. "And almost 1,000 childcare facilities closed their doors over the past few years because of rising costs and a lack of funding from the government.

“Last week the government launched the early learning and childcare investment programme in an effort to deal with rising waiting lists and demand for childcare. Under that plan, the government will purchase buildings and use them to deliver childcare facilities with a capacity of 100 places or more.

“The planning application to remove an approved creche facility from the Woodstream Estate is troubling. Scores of young families live at Woodstream and on the adjacent Gort na Glaise estate. There is high demand in the area for childcare facilities.

"Approving the removal of an important piece of social infrastructure from Woodstream, serves only to continue the bad precedent, set when a creche facility was removed from Baker Hall.

“I implore the council planners to consider this when reaching a decision on this application.

“I am also calling on the government to put its money where its mouth is. Purchase this property from the developer. It needs to be retained as a childcare facility for local children,” he said.

Donal Quirke of Andrews Construction said that the building is simply not viable as a sustainable and operational creche facility.

"We have had the creche on the market for several months now through sales agents who have advertised it for sale or lease."

He explained that since early August 2025, a long-established auctioneers and valuers operating in Navan undertook a full marketing campaign to secure a suitable operator or purchaser for this purpose-built childcare unit.

"The subject property is currently available ‘For Sale’ at €280,000 and any offers received would be put to us for consideration. The method of sale is private treaty sale with a guide price visible online as price on application, again this was their advice to try and entice as many perspective buyers as possible.

"To date, 10 viewings have taken place all from experienced operators within the childcare sector, five of which are currently already operating in Navan. No offers have been received to date, and no second viewings were conducted.

"Our sales agents have followed up with each party, and all have confirmed they do not wish to proceed, with the general consensus being that the unit is not viable for their operational requirements, all citing the same or similar issues."

These issues include insufficient accommodation, the internal layout does not allow for the flexible zoning needed to operate multiple age groups or to run both sessional and full day-care services simultaneously. and the building cannot be scaled to generate a financially sustainable operation. "The unit presents a strong opportunity for an alternative and more sustainable use, particularly in addressing local housing need," he said.